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Low-Cost Dental Care in Maryland

Maryland now gives adults on Medicaid a broad dental benefit: ADA HPI has rated it extensive since 2023. Other low-cost options are its dental school clinic, eight dental hygiene programs and sliding-fee health centers.

Maryland at a glance

Adult Medicaid dental: Extensive
Adult Medicaid, ADA 2025Extensive
Dental schools1
Hygiene programs8
Donated Dental ServicesOpen

Medicaid levels: ADA Health Policy Institute, data as of August 2025. Schools, programs and intake checked October 26, 2026.

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Where to start in Maryland

For an uninsured or low-income adult in Maryland, the usual order is:

  1. Medicaid. Adults get a broad dental benefit (extensive). Apply if your income is low.
  2. Health centers. Fees on a sliding scale by income, at HRSA-funded centers around Maryland.
  3. Dental school clinic. One, in Baltimore. Students treat patients for less than a private office.
  4. 211 and free clinics. Call 211 for local dental programs.
  5. Hygiene schools. Eight accredited programs for low-cost cleanings.

The finder reorders this list for children, seniors, veterans, pregnancy, disability or a dental emergency.

How Maryland expanded adult Medicaid dental care

The ADA Health Policy Institute rates adult Medicaid dental benefits in every state. In its latest review (data as of August 2025, published December 2025), Maryland is at the extensive level. Medicaid pays for a broad mix of care, at least checkups, cleanings and fillings, with a yearly limit of $1,000 or more, or no limit. The ADA Health Policy Institute calls this level "Enhanced".

Coverage here has moved over the last five years: no adult coverage (2021–2022), then extensive (2023–2025).

Year20212022202320242025
Maryland adult levelNo adult coverageNo adult coverageExtensiveExtensiveExtensive

Because the benefit is newer, ask your plan for a list of dentists who take it; the member number is on your card. Not enrolled? Apply through HealthCare.gov or Maryland's Medicaid agency.

Community health centers in Maryland

If you're waiting for Medicaid approval, or earn a little too much to qualify, a health center can bridge the gap. A health center visit is priced by what you earn, and the center must see you even if you can't pay (HRSA). Below the federal poverty guidelines the charge drops to a nominal fee at most; up to 200% of the guidelines, you get a partial discount. Not every site has a dental clinic; ask when you call.

Search by address with HRSA's Find a Health Center, then ask about dental appointments, the sliding fee and what proof of income to bring.

Maryland's dental school clinic

Maryland has one accredited dental school (CODA). Its students treat patients under licensed dentists, for less than a private office charges (ADA MouthHealthy, NIDCR). Expect longer visits, a screening appointment first (sometimes paid) and no promise you'll be accepted. This is what each school's patient page said when we checked on October 26, 2026:

Donated Dental Services in Maryland: intake open

Volunteer dentists in Dental Lifeline Network's program treat people who are 65 or older, permanently disabled, or need medically necessary dental care, at no cost to them. Cosmetic care isn't included. It's a once-only service, other dental benefits (including Medicaid) must be used first, and waits of several months to a year or more are common.

Taking new applications from every county in Maryland. That's from the application form on October 26, 2026, and it changes often. Apply online at Dental Lifeline Network.

Pregnancy, disability and other groups in Maryland

Pregnant members get Maryland's regular adult Medicaid dental benefit (extensive). CareQuest lists no extra pregnancy-only services here (coverage as of December 2024). The ADA says diagnostic, preventive and restorative dental treatment is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including X-rays and local anesthetic.

For other groups, CareQuest lists this in Maryland (coverage as of December 2024): REM (Rare and Expensive Case Management) Program members get extra services.

CareQuest lists no extra dental benefit for people with disabilities in Maryland. Donated Dental Services (below) accepts people who are permanently disabled, and Special Olympics athletes can get free dental screenings at Healthy Athletes events (screening and referral only).

Low-cost cleanings at Maryland's eight dental hygiene programs

CODA lists eight accredited dental hygiene programs in Maryland. Because students work under faculty supervision, these clinics may charge less (NIDCR). They mainly do cleanings and related preventive care, so they suit a checkup and cleaning better than fillings.

To find them, open the CODA program search, choose Allied Dental Education Programs, then Dental Hygiene and Maryland, and call each one to ask about patient clinic days.

Kids' dental coverage in Maryland

Kids under 21 on Medicaid get dental care through EPSDT, and CHIP plans must cover dental care as well (Medicaid.gov). Families earning more than you might think can qualify; InsureKidsNow gives up to $80,000 a year or more for a family of four, varying by state. Apply through HealthCare.gov or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669), then use the InsureKidsNow dentist finder to find a dentist in Maryland who takes your child's plan.

Give Kids A Smile events offer free care for children; ADA MouthHealthy's line for finding one is 1-844-490-4527.

Free one- and two-day dental clinics near Maryland

When we checked the Mission of Mercy schedule on October 26, 2026, nothing was listed in Maryland. New clinics are added, so check again.

Remote Area Medical also runs free clinics with dental care. No insurance is needed, and patients are seen first come, first served, so arrive early.

Seniors and veterans in Maryland

Medicare leaves most routine dental care out: in most cases no cleanings, fillings, extractions or dentures (Medicare.gov). Medicare Advantage is where most seniors find dental benefits: 98% of individual plans offer some in 2026 (KFF), often with a yearly cap. People 55 and older who qualify for PACE get dentistry as part of the program. In Maryland, seniors who also have Medicaid get the adult benefit (extensive).

Veterans get free VA dental care only in certain classes: for example, a compensated service-connected dental condition, a 100% service-connected rating or former POW status. Anyone enrolled in VA health care can buy VADIP dental insurance.

VA dental care lists every eligibility class.

Still stuck? More options in Maryland

211 (211.org) keeps current lists of local help around the clock. The NAFC clinic finder covers free and charitable clinics for people without insurance; ask each one about dental care.

Paying out of pocket? The Dental Payment Calculator compares loans, 0% promos and office payment plans, and Savings Plan vs Insurance shows whether a discount plan beats a policy for your treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland Medicaid cover dental care for adults?
Yes. ADA HPI rates Maryland "extensive" (it calls it "Enhanced") in 2025, up from no adult coverage in 2021.
Is there a dental school in Maryland with cheap dental care?
Yes. University of Maryland School of Dentistry runs a patient clinic where supervised students treat patients for less than a private office. Expect a screening visit first and longer appointments.
Where can I get free dental care in Maryland?
Free care is limited, but there are options. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale, and people at or below the federal poverty guidelines pay a small nominal fee at most (HRSA). For people 65 and older, permanently disabled or needing medically necessary care, Donated Dental Services is taking applications statewide (October 2026). Free clinic events such as Mission of Mercy and RAM also visit different towns each year.
Does Maryland Medicaid cover dental care during pregnancy?
Pregnant members get Maryland's regular adult Medicaid dental benefit (extensive). CareQuest lists no extra pregnancy-only services here (coverage as of December 2024).

Sources

  1. American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute. Dental Care in Medicaid Programs. December 2025. Adult dental benefit level for every state, 2021–2025, based on data as of August 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  2. American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute. Dental Care in Medicaid Programs: data tables (Adult Dental Benefits; Data Sources and Methods). December 2025. Level definitions: None, Emergency-only, Limited (annual maximum of $1,000 or less), Enhanced (at least $1,000 or no limit). Accessed October 26, 2026.
  3. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits Offered to Specific Beneficiary Groups. 2025 (coverage as of December 31, 2024). Accessed October 26, 2026.
  4. Medicaid.gov. Dental Care. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  5. Medicaid.gov. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  6. InsureKidsNow.gov. Find a Dentist. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  7. InsureKidsNow.gov. Find Coverage for Your Family. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  8. HealthCare.gov. Medicaid & CHIP coverage. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  9. Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Search for Dental Programs. Accredited dental schools (DDS/DMD programs) and dental hygiene programs by state, read October 26, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  10. Each dental school. Patient and clinic pages linked from this page. Fees, phone numbers and steps as shown on each school's page when we checked. A few pages could only be read in a browser and are marked for a manual check. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  11. American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Places to Look for Affordable Dental Care. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  12. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Finding Dental Care. last reviewed December 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  13. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Find a Health Center. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  14. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). What is a Health Center?. last reviewed November 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  15. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Health Center Program Compliance Manual, Chapter 9: Sliding Fee Discount Program. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  16. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Dental Care. updated January 12, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  17. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). updated May 1, 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  18. Medicare.gov. Dental services. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  19. KFF. Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits. December 9, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  20. Medicare.gov. PACE. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  21. Dental Lifeline Network. Apply for Help. Eligibility and waitlist: page fetched October 26, 2026. Each state's intake status comes from the application form, read in a browser that day; it changes often. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  22. America's Dentists Care Foundation. Upcoming Free Dental Clinics and Volunteering. Mission of Mercy schedule as listed on October 26, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  23. Remote Area Medical. Free Mobile Healthcare Clinics. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  24. ADA Foundation. Give Kids A Smile. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  25. United Way 211. Your Local 211. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  26. National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. Find a Clinic. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  27. American Dental Association. Pregnancy (Oral Health Topics). updated July 14, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  28. Special Olympics. Healthy Athletes. Accessed October 26, 2026.
  29. American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Types of Dental Plans. Accessed October 26, 2026.

Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.

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